Narrative Lectionary Key Verse for Today
“The spirit of the Lord God is upon me,
because the Lord has anointed me;
he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed,
to bind up the broken-hearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives,
and release to the prisoners.”
NL Daily Devotion for Sunday, December 15, 2024
by Dr. Kimberly Leetch, Clergy Stuff
Main Idea: Isaiah invited people to invest their energy not in what they are against, but in what they are for.
Isaiah spoke to the Hebrew people at a time of great loss, oppression, exile. For thousands of years, it has been sport to ridicule, discriminate, persecute, and even attempt genocide against the Jewish people. At the writing of this section, this iteration of the war in Israel is fairly fresh. While it can be tempting to spend today’s sermon speaking in generalities about God’s promises, it may be an opportunity to speak to what is going on today in a land still dripping in blood.
Yes, this is a tricky business, discussing what can seem like highly charged political events from the pulpit. But perhaps there is a way to address the issue from a more neutral political standpoint, while emphasizing the very palpable, timely, and promising perspective of a loving God.
To begin, position your conversation from a place of what your congregation’s community is for, rather than what it is against. Instead of standing against war, be for peace. Instead of standing against one side or the other, be for the citizens and innocents in all involved countries. Instead of standing against a political party in your own country, be for the ideologies you believe protect, nurture, and uplift people.
Isaiah invited us into this proactivity, beginning with the positive gifts of God who has, “clothed me with the garments of salvation… [and] covered me with the robe of righteousness.” God’s actions push us to act not against, but for. “What is sown… [will] spring up.” Consider what you will present to your congregation as the proactive and productive seeds that your community can sow to support what you are for.
